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An alliance of Muslim groups has raised $122,000 for the families of victims of the San Bernardino shooting in just five days, and donations are still pouring in. Muslims United for San Bernardino, led by southern California's MiNDS Network, originally planned to raise $50,000 to cover short-term expenses like funeral costs, but managed that feat in just 48 hours, reports WATE. So the group kept on trucking with a new goal of reaching $100,000. They met that target on Wednesday and upped their goal to $140,000. More than 1,000 people have donated with 21 days remaining in the campaign."The Koran teaches to 'repel evil by that which is better,'" the group's LaunchGood page says. "I think it sends a clear message that American Muslims are here to build and not destroy," adds Tarek El-Messidi, who helped create the fund, per the Huffington Post.

Leading Islamic scholars and prominent groups like the Islamic Shura Council have also added their names to the fund, reports the Los Angeles Times. "This is an actual, tangible action we can do to show non-Muslims that we have your back," a 20-year-old backer says. "We do not want to be associated at all with extremists who are putting people in harm's way, and we want to show this as just one example of how American Muslims are contributors to society, trying to make our society a better place," El-Messidi adds. He says "the first batch of donations" will go out to families within a week. "We know no amount of money will bring back their loved ones, but hopefully this will make things a little easier for them." With so much money raised, the group says some funds may also go to the Inland Regional Center, where 14 people were killed last week. (Read more San Bernardino shooting stories.)

I think it's a great gesture, and it should just be taken as a positive move by Muslims that are fed up with being associated with extremists. I keep hearing that the Muslim faith is a peaceful religion, and this minority are causing trouble. If that is so, the non violent majority needs to condemn these actions.

Fascinatin' Womanhood

Dec 12, 2015 9:39 AM CST

I am trying to imagine any of the commenters on Newser fasting for a month in remembrance of the poor and homeless, as the Muslims do every year. Westerners are seriously lacking in both compassion and foresight. Someday it might be us seeking asylum in a strange land. All this xenophobia is quite unbecoming of Americans, who themselves were onetime immigrants seeking a better home. Something most of us would rather forget, in light of what happened next...

JFEB

Dec 9, 2015 9:20 PM CST

Yes! Finally some good news from an American Muslim community. That does not change at all my recommendation to prohibit all non-citizen Muslims from entering the country. It does show that there is hope that many American Muslims have good hearts and reject the disgusting violence and abuse in the Koran to the same extent that most American Jews and Christians reject the disgusting violence and abuse in the Bible. Maybe there is hope.